ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



shows that this leniency resulted in a revival of dissent, looked upon with 

 great disfavour by the authorities in Norfolk, who strongly supported Captain 

 Clarke,^ a churchwarden who was active in prosecuting dissenters. That their 

 meetings had frequently been interfered with is shown by the fact that when 

 they were prevented in the town they were held in Lovingland and Cobham 

 Isle, islands adjoining.'' 



Numerous licences to preach were applied for by the dissenters in 

 Norfolk under the Declaration of Indulgence, and again letters among the 

 State Papers show that the Nonconformists there, even after the passing of 

 the Test Act, believed, and declared their belief, that the king was on their 

 side,' thereby greatly incensing the church party. The meetings of very 

 great numbers of Presbyterians and Independents in places called the 

 Granaries in Norwich in December, 1674, led to a riot.* 



There was much work to be done at the Restoration in repairing the 

 cathedral and the bishop's palace, which had been let out in tenements. 

 Parish churches had also to be supplied with many things that were 

 necessary, and as late as 1676 the churchwardens' accounts for the parish 

 church of Stockton contain an entry for the expenses of setting up the altar, 

 and for hinges for the same.' In July, 1674, the prebendaries petitioned for a 

 change in the statutes regulating their residence, and by the advice of the bishop 

 and the Lord Keeper, the king substituted, for the four months' continuous 

 residence in a year then compulsory, a period of two months' continuously, 

 with obligation to attend divine service then twice a day, except in case of 

 necessity ; and they were enjoined to attend whenever a conge d'elire was 

 issued.* Bishop Reynolds systematically endeavoured to improve the condi- 

 tion of the poorer clergy. He was also boundless in his charity and generosity 

 throughout the great plague of 1666. Perhaps his greatest claim on the love 

 and veneration of later generations is his contribution of the General Thanks- 

 giving to the Book of Common Prayer. He died 28 July, 1676, and was 

 succeeded by Bishop Anthony Sparrow, translated from the see of Exeter. 

 He was an eminent loyalist, and the year before Cromwell died had published 

 his well-known Rationale upon the Book of Common Prayer^ though at that time 

 the use of the Prayer Book was forbidden under heavy penalties. He was 

 much loved and respected at Norwich, and died 19 May, 1685. 



His successor, William Lloyd, who was translated from the see of 

 Peterborough 1 1 June following, was to become the most prominent of the 

 non-juring bishops. By his prompt action in 1687 the declaration for liberty 

 of conscience was never read in his diocese, and it was only by an accident 

 that he was prevented from signing the petition of the Seven Bishops against 

 it which resulted in their trial in 1688, when his assiduity in aiding them led 

 to a threat that he should yet keep company with them.'' In December of 

 that year Norwich showed its feeling by serious riots, in which several houses 

 of papists in the city were pillaged, and much destruction was done at a lately 

 opened ' popish chapel.' The rioters were dispersed by the trained bands, but 

 had threatened to plunder the bishop's palace.* 



' Cal. S.P. Dom. 1670, pp. 518-19. ' Ibid. 255. 



» Ibid. 1673-5, pp. 454, 463, 468. * Ibid. 463. 



' Norf. Arch, i, 189. ' Cal. S. P. Dom. 1673-5, PP- 3oo> 3^2, 333- 



' Bohun, Autobiograph'j, 51-2. * Blomefield, iii, 424. 



299 



